peanutspathtotruth

Don't think too much about "getting the most out of it". This right there can be a huge hindrance to going deep in your trips. That being said, keep your meditation habit, maybe extend the time of sitting slowly and educate yourself about how to trip safely and how to deal with different states of ego games. Basically let everything be as it is unconditionally and you will see what you need to see. Don't fight ANYthing during the trip. Rather be as conscious as possible (but don't try mentally to be!). That's why the meditation habit is so important, to get a feel for what this actually means. And as Leo suggests, start low, work your way up. This way you get a sense of what you can handle and what the traps are. To me, there is also a small difference between only being aware of pure being or "actively" contemplating something like "Who Am I?". In the end I found they are both morphing into each other, but especially in the beginning it's easy to get lost in thought so be on guard

Yes, same for me, doesn't even have to be SDS, but at some point every sensation morphs into each other and it becomes the same "stuff" and (although this is not always the case) all this "stuff" has a beautiful and loving quality to it. It's amazing how simple exercising or a cold shower get when in this mode of perception. Regarding your question: The only thing I really feel helps a lot with long durations of sitting is some physical yoga/stretching. Especially twists, dead hangs, some sun salutations. I feel this is really important even without SDS.

Thanks so much for letting us know

Really happy for you my friend It shows once again that consistency and perseverence is key. I can confirm this myself but I want to actually live this insight way more integrated. Thanks for sharing

Nobody can answer this question for you anyway, no matter if they say so. Find out for yourself There's infinite time to find out. I think one of the traps here is the term "complete enlightenment". What is that supposed to be? Yes, many teachers say you're either enlightened or not. I personally don't think that way any longer, for me this believe is still being one of the biggest limitations. To arrive at that end goal. This desire and question in itself is the hindrance. I do not know that either, but for me what many call enlightenment I think is often just "no-self". When you compare it to the many maps of stages of enlightenment, that would just be the beginning. Also, I do think it is quite more likely that there is no end at all, there is an infinite realization going on if you let it. I mean no distinction means no distinction, no duality or non-duality, no beginning or end (or end goal for that matter). The only way is finding out

Like "one after the other on the same day" in a row? I did this with vaporizing DMT (about 5 tokes in a row) and went deeper and deeper every toke. Only the last one made me surrender completely. But even before the last one I really felt my body / brain getting quite exhausted. How is it with 5Meo?

CBL <3 Psybient in general has many artists who are amazing, deep in nonduality or not.

Very good point, thank you. I will definitely look into finding a good therapist. That's what I am feeling in the beginning of studying this... It's quite sad how far academic psychology is from the real work.

@Rilles This is the one thing getting me to a total shift of perspective. Exactly what you are referring to I read in one of Almaas' books recently. It completely changed my approach to all this work. Yes it is very difficult. But once there is even a tiny bit of understanding of this, it starts to become very releasing. Even if the suffering increases as I never experienced before. This post feels like a synchronicity Much love to you <3

Thank you so much! I have to say though, my question was not really aimed at differentiating those kinds of therapy for my own attending (although I really do think about doing that soon). It was more a question regarding my own path of service and helping other people. I (my ego) is looking for words of experience so I can decide where to specialize in and how to help people. I also realize that in the end I will have to find out by myself. And maybe I should ask transpersonal psychologists

@winterknight It is very interesting that you mention therapy as a very helpful aid along the path. I currently started studying psychology cause after looking for a long time, I had a sense that somewhere in this field is my place to help other human beings. My mind though always tells me that every approach not integrating the spiritual side is not really fertile. I know it's just an assumption, though this somehow hinders me in seeing where I might specialize later. I learned about transpersonal therapy through Leo and it is well recognized. Do you have any experience with this kind of psychology? I am just wondering, and maybe other people here have some thoughts about this too, if transpersonal therapy is the closest scientific method to mimic or aid a spiritual path (which then incorporates psychological development as well). I can see how psychodynamic therapy and psychoanalysis both have interesting observations regarding the development of the "I" and why it comes to be. I am just not sure if transpersonal psychology is all of the "good" and unconfused stuff of many directions put into one new way of approaching psychology. I waited with this question for a long time since I don't know if anyone has the expertise + spiritual and psychological insight to really answer the question. Any help is very much appreciated

Same here, listened to it the first time about three years ago, then once or twice again since then. Always good to remind oneself of the basics

@Serotoninluv Very interesting point, really resonates

True, but it may be helpful to start from the right place of understanding. It's one of the core things to see sooner or later anyway.

Well put

@Jack River Exactly, even if this experience is one of higher consciousness. Even those can fuel the personality even further than before. Tricky tricky, but when seen it's quite simple. To come back to the topic here, I think that's what psychedelics can help you to see (but they don't necessarily will of course).

@GabeN Yes, there are just as well people who meditate to hunt experiences, maybe for their whole life. It doesn't matter what you do, this trap is ALWAYS functioning. So I personally don't think this argument is showing the real situation, it sounds very limited.

@electroBeam I can only talk from limited awareness and limited experience, but since this is all anybody of us really has to speak from, here is my take on it. Please be aware of people who say they believe someone else's voice more than their own (and more importantly, than their own experience) 1. Notice that your "observations" of other people as you describe them seem to include some projection. I mean how do you know if they integrate an experience? You claim they completely fail to do so. How do you know? How do you know the integration process doesn't take months or even years after the trip? And who says integration is visible for you? Moreover, where do you get your observations from? How many, how detailed, how scientifically are you really observing? 2. Same thing for the second question. Why do you assume that psychedelics are NOT changing your brain's synaptic connections? I'm not an expert, but I also heard a lot of recent studies seem to prove it otherwise. But what do I know. Just pointing out that it's easy to assume this stuff. Ultimately what I'm getting at is this: Only trust your own experience. At my current "stage" I would tend to agree with @Strikr about this line: This means that every desire or fear or rejection of anything in your current experience is leading you away from truth. It's about loving and wanting to understand truth, not about wanting to be happy or not wanting to suffer anymore. So in the end, I personally don't think psychedelics are necessary at all. Speaking from my own experience though I can imagine myself not having the understanding I have now without these experiences. Especially DMT showed me that all the concepts I had of enlightenment before, even with plenty of meditation over the years, had NOTHING (!!!!) to do with the actual thing. It's not about boosting your meditation, it's not about improving anything. The real benefit I think is bringing about a situation in which you get the opportunity to see your own inner workings so crystal clear that there's no way to unsee it. It's not about interpreting those experiences. It's far beyond what your mind can comprehend. There are so many things to discover, and there are many paths. Sure, maybe I am not conscious enough to see those substances damaging my "energy system" or something else. I just know that what is, is, and that is okay. Only look at your own experience. Try them if you're curious, educate yourself about safe use. If not, then don't. It's very simple. Don't overthink it. Much love to you <3

Sometimes just seeing a tree or a bird or a dog or even a dirty street or my own inner bullshit gets me stuck in awe because it's so incomprehensibly beautiful

I thought so. Easy then

@Hellspeed Not sure if you're just joking... If not though, what do you mean by dropping the enemy in fear? I mean how do you do it?

@Ingit Do you actually know what psychedelics are? No judgement involved in this question. Really make sure you know what they are. What is a "substance of abuse" to you? How do you differentiate between a substance that is "bad" in your view and what is not bad? What about sugar or alcohol or many toxins from non-organic foods (yes even fruits and vegetables)? Do you consume these? Do you KNOW what you are consuming and what it can lead to? What is a drug to you? Is it a "substance of abuse" just by definition? Do you see all legally forbidden substances as dangerous? Moreover, did you actually research the whole field of psychedelics without the bias of your ideas? For example, did you watch Leo's videos about how to do psychedelics and the "Correcting the Stigma" series? Those are a good starting point to get a sense of context for how you view these substances. If you "should or shouldn't" try them highly depends on your understanding of what psychedelics actually are and why we use them for consciousness exploration. Really dive in if you are interested, you will find your own answers only then. And, as @Shiva said -> Before you can make any judgement, you have to experience them.

Are you listening to those or are you being in silence only? Also, any formalities regarding posture or anything? Are you only following your breath or "do-nothing" meditation? I'm really motivated to do something like that as well

Extended periods of (water) fasting can definitely deepen meditation. The first one or two days can be challenging, but after that it interestingly gets quite undemanding. Of course you shouldn't move too much/stand up too fast etc., and if possible do it on days without any work to do. First, you have the challenge of the unpleasant physical sensations during the first two days which can help you enter into a deep state of acceptance/letting go already. After that, your body stops digesting and demanding food, so you have much more energy left over in general which, for example, makes it effortless to be in an absorbtive state of concentration for a long time. I also experienced much deeper sleep and needed less hours per night. Even moving around feels light and easy (when slow and in moderation). After several days and focused meditation the state of absorption can get quite deep and the now partly detoxed body feels great. This combination can lead to very blissful and insightful experiences. Now that you mentioned it, I think I will do one of those very soon

Excellent, thank you <3